The Mine Safety and Health Administration still denies FOIA requests, including one filed in Oct. 2008 by mine safety attorney Tony Oppegard for some witness statements.

The Newark Star-Ledger reports a move by a top New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection official to prevent public disclosure of scientific information that should be public until political appointees without science credentials and press officers have approved it.

 

 Climate change scientist paints a stark and vivid picture

THE WINDS OF CHANGE: CLIMATE, WEATHER AND THE DESTRUCTION OF CIVILIZATIONS By Eugene Linden 
Simon & Schuster, $26

About $100 million in funding is earmarked for 53 projects in 20 states and the District of Columbia by the US Dept. of Housing and Urban Development.

Billy Wolfe, of the Clarksburg Exponent Telegram, learns more about the chemicals in the hydraulic fracturing fluid used by gas-drilling companies.

The Supreme Court of Canada will consider this week a request by the National Post, civil liberties and media groups to overturn an Appeal ruling that police investigations override the Charter guarantee of free expression.

The browsable report lists the date the request was received, the date a response is due, and the status.

After an appeals court ruling against them, and running out of funds, conservationists dropped their suit against the Forest Service for escorting them from a press conference on a Bitterroot National Forest timber sale.

Watchdog groups and the Associated Press report on federal agency foot-dragging in making a reality of Obama administration declarations that it would foster government transparency.

One result of increased EPA grant money going to state and local governments will be uptick in activity on many local environmental projects — which will translate into news.